Comcast SportsNet Chicago Set for Trifecta of Live Telecasts

It’s a great time to be a Chicago sports fan. The Blackhawks and Bulls are locked in heated playoff series, and the Cubs are celebrating the 100th anniversary of that grand old piece of Americana on the North Side, Wrigley Field. Tonight, it all hits a fever pitch on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

The paths of these three storied franchises converge at 7 p.m. CT, with the network airing three live games simultaneously: Game 5 of the first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup between the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues on Comcast SportsNet, Game 3 between the Bulls and Washington Wizards in their NBA Playoffs showdown on CSN+, and Cubs at the Milwaukee Brewers on CSN+2.

“Friday night will most definitely be a unique experience for both our network and our viewers, with three live games airing simultaneously on three separate channel locations. But we are certainly ready for this exciting challenge,” says Phil Bedella, VP/GM of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “I’d also like to thank our sister station [WMAQ-TV Chicago] and their president/GM, David Doebler, for their assistance in making their digital channel, Cozi TV, available for our CSN+2 Cubs telecast.”

Blackhawks (CSN)
With the series notted at two games apiece, the first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues returns to St. Louis for a pivotal Game 5. Blackhawks Pregame Live presented by Chevy with hosts Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd will begin at 6:30 p.m. from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

The game will be produced out of Mobile TV Group’s dual-feed HD unit 32HDX, will feature tech enhancements including two robotic cameras and a super-slo-mo, and will be led by the producer/director tandem of Mike Leary and Dave Turner. Also on-site at play-by-play man Pat Foley, associate producer Dave Ross, reporter Luke Stuckmeyer, and CSNChicago.com Digital Insider Tracey Myers.

Bulls (CSN+)
The Bulls are in desperation mode, finding themselves down 2-0 in their first-round NBA Playoffs matchup with the upstart Washington Wizards. Bulls Pregame Live presented by McDonald’s with hosts Mark Schanowski and Will Perdue will begin at 6:30 p.m. from the Verizon Center in Washington.

NEP Broadcasting’s SS14 HD unit will be parked in the compound outside the Verizon Center tonight with the production headed  by producer John Walsh, director Nick Marchetta, associate producer Tamra Anderson, and technical manager Mark Harper. Three robotic cameras will be deployed, along with a super-slo-mo.

On-air talent for the broadcast are play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky, analyst Stacey King, reporter Aiyana Cristal, and CSNChicago.com Digital Insider Aggrey Sam.

Cubs (CSN+2)
Following a week full of celebrations surrounding the centennial of the opening of legendary Wrigley Field, the Cubs hit the road to open a three-game weekend set with the Milwaukee Brewers. To make room for the additional overflow channel, Comcast SportsNet worked out an agreement with WMAQ-TV’s 5.2 digital channel Cozi TV to carry the telecast.

At Miller Park, Trio Video’s Tempo HD unit with be home to the production crew led by producer Marc Brady, director Skip Ellison, and associate producer Kian Dowlatshahi. 

Len Kasper and Jim DeShaies are on the call with CSNChicago.com Digital Insider Patrick Mooney.